Mother Suspected Of Murder After Body Of 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard Found: Crime Alert Recap Saturday 12.27.2025

Breaking crime news as it happens throughout the day! Follow "Crime Alert Hourly Update" now on your favorite podcast app: https://link.chtbl.com/Crime_Alert Here's some of our top stories this week: A man and woman discovered Melodee’s body while taking pictures in Wayne County, Utah, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a Tuesday news conference. A grandmother shopping for Christas gifts at Barnes & Noble is stabbed to death by a deranged madman who just arrived in town. He claimed he killed her because, "she was the closest person to him." A state trooper in Delaware is killed while working an overtime shift at the DMV after stepping into gunfire to protect others. Santa Claus is pulled over for speeding on an Ohio road, not in his sleigh, but a silver Ford Escape. Drew Nelson reports. A man from Michigan has been arrested after security footage revealed him trying to persuade children at a residence in northern Scott County to let him in by falsely claiming their parents were injured outside. Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new trial date set for Tyler McCain, the man charged with killing his wife, Nikki Cheng Saelee-McCain.  McCain facing 12 charges and multiple special allegations, including one that he killed his wife to prevent her from testifying against him in court over domestic violence charges.   The jury trial was supposed to start on Nov. 18, but McCain’s lawyer, Michael Borges, asked for more time given the mounds of documentation provided by the prosecution.  Shasta Superior Court Judge Adam B. Ryan set the trial date was set for March 17, 2026.   A trial readiness hearing will be held on March 11, to ensure both parties are prepared for the trial.  As of today, Nikki is still missing and presumed dead.  Redding Police detective Jeremiah Kessinger said Nikki's sister Chloe Saelee texted with Nikki regularly, and there was always a response until May 19th. Family members talked with Nikki on May 18, but on May 19, she never answered a text from Chloe. Nikki told Chloe about domestic violence in the relationship and McCain going so far as to point a gun directly at Nikki and threatening to kill her and her family members.  In court, Detective Maul played an audio recording in court of Nikki McCain describing being assaulted by her husband, Tyler McCain. The recording was done in a hospital emergency room, where Nikki showed up to give the police a statement. Nikki says, "He pushed me on the ground. And he started hitting me. He was just enraged; he was so angry." Nikki estimates the attack lasted three hours.  Tyler McCain has pleaded not guilty to the murder charges. Joining Nancy Grace today: Kaye Ford  - Nikki's sister Chloe Saelee - Nikki's sister Philip Dubé  - Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal & Constitutional Law; Forensics & Mental Health Advocacy; X: PhilipCDube, IG: PhilipDube, YouTube: PhilipDube3922 Dr. Bethany Marshall -  Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive Brian Fitzgibbons - VP of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security, Kingsman Philanthropic's 2022 rescue missions of women and children in Ukraine, Iraq War Veteranide_security Jeff Gentry – Forensics-Crime Scene Investigator, Certified Bloodstain Pattern Analyst and Death Investigator, Former Toxicology Lab Analyst; Author: “A Visual Guide to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis for Death and Crime Scene Investigators;” TikTok: @jeffreygentryBPA, Facebook: Jeff Gentry Bloodstain Pattern Analyst Dave Mack - Crime Stories Investigative Reporter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new hearing scheduled in Andrew McGann’s double murder trial by a Washington County judge.   McGann, 29, charged  with the July stabbing deaths of Clinton and Cristen Brink.   He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.  Judge Joanna Taylor scheduled a status hearing for January 15, 2026.  At McGann' last court appearance in November, he appeared in civilian clothes and without visible restraints.  He attorneys have file a number of motions including ones that would exclude the death penalty.  Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Brandon Carter says his office intends to pursue the death penalty. The former teacher's arrest for the cruel double murder of a mom and dad trying to save their two young daughters from a vicious attack during a family hike on a trail in Arkansas, known as Devil’s Den State Park, ended a five-day manhunt for the alleged predator. Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were hiking with their 7- and 9-year-old daughters through Devil’s Den State Park when a man attacked them on the trail around 2:30 p.m., officials say. The two young girls ran to safety as they heard their mother's screams echoing; currently, both girls are with family members and suffered no physical injuries. The parents are being hailed as heroes for saving their daughters from the vicious fatal attack.  James Andrew McGann, 28, was arrested in Springdale, Arkansas, around 30 miles from the crime scene at a hair salon. getting his hair cut, possibly shaved. McGann is charged with two counts of capital murder, according to a release from the Arkansas State Police. The motive for the brutal attack that resulted in the deaths of both parents is still unclear. Joining Nancy Grace today: Andrea Lewis - Partner at Searcy Law in Pam Beach, Florida, Former Felony Prosecutor at Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office - where Epstein was prosecuted, President of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, WEBSITE: searcylaw.com  Dr. Janie Lacy - Licensed Psychotherapist and CEO of Life Counseling Solutions, Author of "How To Heal From A Toxic Relationship: A Guide To Reclaiming Your Mental Health and Happiness", Host of “The Resilient Professional” Podcast on YouTube, janielacy.com, Instagram & Facebook: @JanieLacy   Ron Bateman - Former Sheriff for Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Former Homicide and Undercover Narcotics Detective, Author of Crime Ttrilogy, "Silent Blue Tears" [he is currently directing and producing a film documentary on the murders at the Capital Gazette Newspaper in Annapolis];.X: Ronbatemanbooks   Dr. Michelle DuPre - Forensic Pathologist and Consultant, Medical Examiner and Detective: Lexington County Sheriff's Department; Author: “Money, Mischief, and Murder: The Murdaugh Dynasty...the Rest of the Story," "Homicide Investigation Field Guide" & "Child Abuse Investigation Field Guide;"Currently Working on New Book: "The Inside Story"  Carsen Holaday- Senior News Reporter, The U.S. Sun  Sydney Sumner - CRIME STORIES Investigative Reporter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A sophomore at the University of New Mexico, Tara Calico is in school full-time while working at a bank. At 9:30 a.m. on September 20, Tara takes her mom's pink Huffy bike for her daily bike ride, telling her mom she is playing tennis with her boyfriend later, so if she isn't home by noon, come looking for her. An offhand comment her mother takes to heart. When Tara isn't back at 12:05 p.m., her mother, Patty, gets in her car to retrace Tara's bike route, expecting to see Tara walking on the side of the road with her bike. Driving out to the train tracks where Tara normally turns around to head back home, Patty doesn't see Tara and assumes she missed her and heads back home. Patty calls Tara's boyfriend, who says he hasn't seen Tara, then calls the police in a panic. Police begin an immediate search for the 19-year-old, as her disappearance is out of the ordinary. Her sister, Michele, joins in the search with Tara's friends and boyfriend. A storm is coming, the temperature is dropping, friends walking two feet apart, hand in hand across both sides of the roadway, looking for any sign of Tara. About two and a half miles down the search route, some tire tracks that look spun out are discovered on the side of the road. It seems like there was a scuffle, and the bike marks are visible amongst the tire marks from the vehicle. Tara is known to use a distinctive, bright yellow Walkman on her bike ride, and when a broken piece of a bright yellow Walkman is found in the area of the tire marks, her sister, Michele, believes it is Tara leaving a trail to follow. A cassette tape of the band "Boston" is discovered about three miles from her home on the side of Highway 47. Tara's mother, Patty, identifies the tape as belonging to Tara, saying that it is what Tara was listening to on her bike ride. Tara Calico was last seen riding her mother's neon pink Huffy mountain bicycle on Highway 47 about two miles from her home in Belen. A dirty white or light gray 1953 Ford pickup truck with a white, handmade shell was following directly behind her. Still, investigators don't know if the truck has anything to do with the disappearance of Tara Calico. Joining Nancy Grace: Melinda Esquibel -  Tara Calico's Childhood Friend / Filmmaker, Podcaster, Producer and Host of Podcast, “VANISHED," which investigates what happened to Tara John Day - Criminal Defense Attorney of John Day Law Dr. John Delatorre -  Licensed Psychologist and Mediator (specializing in forensic psychology); Psychological Consultant to Project Absentis: a nonprofit organization that searches for missing persons; X, IG, and TikTok - @drjohndelatorre Chris McDonough - Director at the Cold Case Foundation, Former Homicide Detective (worked over 300 Homicides in 25-year career), Trained the First Native American Homicide Task Force; Host of YouTube Channel, "The Interview Room"  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Florida teens indicted in connection with the death of Danika Troy, a 14-year-old Pace girl found murdered earlier this month. A reserve police officer and his wife have been arrested and charged with subjecting their biological and foster children to “cruel and unusual punishment.” A man charged with shooting his grandfather dead two years ago at the behest of his mother has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will testify against the mother. Sydney Sumner reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Non-Christian Historical Sources: Writings by non-Christian sources from the time of Jesus to provide independent confirmation of his existence….like: Tacitus, a Roman historian, who in his Annals (written around 116 AD) mentions the execution of "Christus" (Jesus) under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Josephus, a Jewish historian, in Antiquities of the Jews, about 93-94 AD, makes two references to Jesus. One is a more disputed passage (the Testimonium Flavianum), but it still provides evidence of Jesus' existence, his role as a teacher, and his crucifixion. Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor, in a letter to Emperor Trajan around 112 AD, mentions early Christians worshiping Christ as a god and gathering regularly for worship. These references from non-Christian authors confirm the existence of Jesus and suggest that he was known for his teachings and crucifixion.  The Pilate Inscription: In 1961, archaeologists uncovered a stone inscription in Caesarea Maritima that mentions Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who ordered Jesus’ crucifixion. This find supports the biblical account of Pilate's role in Jesus’ trial. The James Ossuary: A first-century bone box inscribed with "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" was discovered in 2002. While its authenticity has been debated, it could provide indirect evidence of Jesus’ historical existence, especially if it refers to the biblical James, the brother of Jesus. Early Christian Writings: Early Christian writers such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp—who were contemporaries or immediate followers of the apostles—wrote about Jesus as a real person who had lived, died, and risen from the dead. These writings, which are part of the early Christian tradition, serve as additional evidence that Jesus was a historical figure.  Joining Nancy Grace:  Billy Hallowell – TV Host at CBN News (Christian Broadcasting Network), New Documentary “Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles,” Host of 2 podcasts: “Jesus and the Prophecies of Christmas” and “Quickstart,” and Author of “Playing with Fire: A Modern Investigation into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts,” and “The Armageddon Code: One Journalist’s Quest for End-Times Answers” and more; @BillyHallowell on all social platforms Guy Powell – Host of the Podcast, “The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin; Board member of STERA (The Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association), Board Member of SEEC (The Shroud Educational Endeavous Corporation, President of ProRelevant, and Author of “The Only Witness: A History of the Shroud of Turin;” YouTube: Guy.R.Powell.ShroudofTurin; Facebook: AHistoryOfTheShroudOfTurin; IG: @guy.r.powell; TikTok: @guy.r.powell Dr. Robert “Bobby” Duke – (Southern CA and Washington, D.C.) Chief Curatorial Officer and the Director of the Scholars Initiative at Museum of the Bible, Author of “Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary” and “The Social Location of the Visions of Amram;” Facebook: MuseumofBible, Twitter: @museumofBible Dr. J. Daniel “Danny” Hays – (Arkadelphia, AR) Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus at Ouachita Baptist University, Author of “A Christian’s Guide to Evidence for the Bible: 101 Proofs from History and Archaeology” and “The ICHTHUS Christagram and Other Early Christian Symbols,” and 15 other books; X: @Haysdanny Dr. Robert Van Voorst – Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary, and Author of “Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence” Bishop Dr. LaDonna Osborn – (Tulsa, OK) President and CEO of Osborn Ministries International, Author “God’s Big Picture” (she has ministered in over 100 nations, among people of many cultures and most major religions); Facebook: Dr. LaDonna Osborn See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teen is left paralyzed; his leg amputated after a city worker driving a garbage truck - crushes the kid on his way to class. But she won't spend a day behind bars for the double-run over devastation.  A notorious thug blinds a granny in a savage Seattle attack. The career criminal was walking free due to major justice system failures. Plus, a burglary sends a mama bear on a collision course in Cali! Jennifer Gould reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Bell is very outgoing, a cheerleader with lots of friends, and loves spending time with her older sister, Bonnie, taking pictures at the beach. Danielle's home life with her mother, Susan, is not strict and she often doesn't know where her daughter is or who she is hanging with most days.  Susan's older daughter, Bonnie, says Susan is a known to be struggling in her daily life, which is why plans were made for Danielle to move in with her father, Matt Bell. Danielle meets Alfredo Sanchez, and begins to change. Friends don't like Sanchez, he scares them, and they don't like the idea he is 24 and Danielle is just 14. Danielle begins to drift from her friends, spending more time with Sanchez and his much older friends. Danielle tells her mother and a few friends she is pregnant with Sanchez baby and also shares to not repeat because Sanchez says he will kill her if she tells anyone. On Friday night, September 28, Danielle is at Heritage Park in Cantonment near the Sanchez home, hanging out with Sanchez and some of his friends when they decide to go to a party at the home of Sanchez friend, Robert Bassett. Danielle gets in a white Lincoln town car with Sanchez younger brother, Alex, and drives to 588 Cedar Tree Lane. A missing person report is filed on the night of September 30th and investigators immediately begin searching. Danielle is seen getting into a White Lincoln Town Car around 11:30pm. Witnesses report seeing Danielle at the home of Robert Bassett and that sighting is allegely the last time Danielle was seen alive, ever. Joining Nancy Grace: Bonnie Bell, Danielle Bell's Sister Matt Bell, Danielle Bell’s Father Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy),  www.panthermitigation.com, Twitter: @TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology" Tom Rawlings  - President of Child Welfare & Justice Transformation. Former juvenile court judge, state child advocate, and former Director of Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS). Board-certified Child Welfare Law Specialist (Child welfare and child protection consultant and attorney, equipping organizations in the US and abroad to protect children from abuse and exploitation) AUTHOR OF “Protecting Other People’s Children: 120 Days to Create a Strong Child Safety Policy,” website: CWJT.US. https://tomrawlings.substack.com, X @tcrawlings See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Florida woman was arrested and charged with murder for killing two of her ex-husbands on the same day.  Drew Nelson reporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deep in the Maine woods near the Canadian border, the Damron family sets up a homestead on 20 acres of land with a Yurt they use as a home. The family of eight consists of father and mother, Dale and Lisa Damron, their five children, and 80-year-old Richard Turgeon. Turgeon is not a blood relative but has lived with the family for so long that the children call him grandpa. After two winters in the yurt with no running water, no indoor plumbing and power supplied by generator, Dale and Lisa Damron, and the youngest children move into a trailer offered to them by friend, Andrew Losiewicz, a mile away up the driveway from the Yurt, while 13-year-old Stefanie and her 18-year-old sister, Star, live with grandpa Richard Turgeon, in the yurt. After a serious argument about chores around the yurt, Stefanie goes for a walk in the woods to calm herself. Not uncommon, as Stefanie knows the woods like the back of her hand. Lisa and Dale Damron are in town on a job interview when Star calls to tell them about the argument and Stefanie running into the woods. It is 3 p.m., and the Damron thinks Stefanie will return shortly. As the sun goes down and Stefanie hasn’t returned, the Damrons are concerned and take to the woods, calling out for Stefanie. When Stefanie hasn’t returned the next morning, the Damron report her missing to the Maine State Police, and organized searches begin. Investigators conduct a neighborhood canvas and video search, K9 teams and volunteers conduct grid searches over the Damrons’ property for days, and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment—or CARD team is brought in to look for Stefanie’s activity online. Stefanie’s Father, Dale Damron, says he didn’t think Stefanie could get online and wasn’t aware the flip phone they got for “grandpa” Richard Turgeon could access the internet. A quick check of the phone and the FBI realizes Stefanie could have been using the flip phone to get online. Joining Nancy Grace: Franz Borghardt - Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, and Adjunct Professor at Louisiana State University, Teaching Criminal Litigation; Instagram and Facebook: BorghardtLawFirm,  Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski - Forensic Psychologist, Author: “Darksides;" YouTube: "Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski, Forensic Psychologist" Brian Fitzgibbons - Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security (leads a team of investigators specializing in locating missing persons), Former Marine and Iraq War Veteran; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security Christie Rand - Volunteer Searcher for Stefanie Damron Chris Carson Sr.  - Neighbor of Stefanie Damron Family Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.